WO2020028135A1

WO2020028135A1 - Controller that controls equipment functions based on operator location, and equipment control methods

Info

Publication number: WO2020028135A1
Application number: PCT/US2019/043399
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Mcmahon
Original assignee: Marquardt Gmbh
Priority date: 2018-08-01
Filing date: 2019-07-25
Publication date: 2020-02-06
Also published as: EP3831097A4; EP3831097A1

Abstract

Location detectors for detecting direction in which a signal emitter is located and/or distance to such signal emitter. Location detectors for detecting location of an operator or an asset (e.g., with whom or with which a signal emitter is associated). Location detectors that determine the direction in which a signal emitter is located, and receive information about an operator's identity or category, receive information about an asset, determine the distance to such signal emitter, and/or transmit any such information. Controllers that comprise such location detectors and that control equipment based on location of a signal emitter and/or an operator's identity or category. Methods that include detecting location of a signal emitter, controlling functions performed by equipment, and/or transmitting information.

Description

CONTROLLER THAT CONTROLS EQUIPMENT FUNCTIONS BASED ON OPERATOR LOCATION, AND EQUIPMENT CONTROL METHODS

Cross-reference to Related Applications

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 section (e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/713,223, filed August 1, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Inventive Subject Matter

As described below in detail, in some aspects, the present inventive subject matter provides location detectors that are used in detecting location information (relative to the location detector) of an operator (who is carrying a signal emitter, on whom a signal emitter is mounted, or with whom a signal emitter is otherwise somehow associated) or an asset (on which a signal emitter is mounted, or with which a signal emitter is otherwise somehow associated), and to methods that include detecting location information of a signal emitter.

The present inventive subject matter relates to location detectors that can determine the direction in which a signal emitter is located (i.e., the direction relative to the location detector).

The present inventive subject matter also relates to location detectors that can determine the distance to a signal emitter (i.e., the distance from the location detector).

The present inventive subject matter also relates to location detectors that can (1) determine the direction in which a signal emitter is located, and (2) determine the distance to such signal emitter).

The present inventive subject matter also relates to controllers that comprise a location detector and that control equipment (e.g., integrated auxiliary equipment and attachments of automotive and non-automotive equipment) based on location of a signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter being carried by and operator, or mounted on an operator, or otherwise associated with an operator) relative to the equipment. The present inventive subject matter also relates to controllers (1) that comprise a location detector that can determine the direction in which a signal emitter is located, and/or determine the distance to such signal emitter, and (2) that can also (a) receive information from the signal emitter and/or (b) transmit (to the signal emitter or to any other signal receiver) [i] information about the direction in which the signal emitter is located, [ii] information about the distance to the signal emitter, and/or [iii] information about equipment (e.g., equipment with which the controller is associated).

The present inventive subject matter also relates to controllers that comprise a location detector, and that can determine:

(1) whether an operator is authorized to operate equipment,

(2) whether an operator is authorized to use equipment to perform a particular function, and/or which functions an operator is authorized to use, from among functions that equipment is configured to perform, and/or

(3) whether an operator is authorized to receive information, and/or which information an operator is authorized to receive, from among information relating to equipment, based on an identification signal that (a) is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal emitter (or transceiver) and that (b) indicates an identity of the operator, and/or a category to which the operator belongs.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to controllers (1) that comprise a location detector that can determine the direction in which a signal emitter is located (i.e., the direction relative to the location detector) and/or the distance to the signal emitter, and that can also perform any one or more of (2) - (4) below:

(2) receiving information about an operator (e.g., the operator’s identity and/or a category to which the operator belongs) or an asset (e.g., the type of asset, a serial number for the asset, the hours of operation for the asset, etc.); (3) transmitting (to an operator, an asset, or any other signal receiver) information about the direction in which the signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter associated with an operator or a signal emitter associated with an asset) is located;

(4) transmitting ((to an operator, an asset, or any other signal receiver) information about the distance to a signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter associated with an operator or a signal emitter associated with an asset).

The present inventive subject matter also relates to controllers that comprise location detectors and that (1) control equipment, and/or (2) send information to the signal emitter and/or to another signal receiver, based on (1) the location of a signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter being carried by an operator, mounted on an operator, or otherwise associated with an operator) relative to the equipment, and (2) the identity of the operator, and/or a category to which the operator belongs.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to methods of determining the direction in which a signal emitter is located.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to methods of determining the distance to a signal emitter.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to methods of determining (1) the direction in which a signal emitter is located, and (2) the distance to such signal emitter.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to methods of controlling functions performed by equipment, based on the location of a signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter being carried by an operator, mounted on an operator, or otherwise associated with an operator) relative to the equipment.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to methods that comprise (1) determining the direction in which a signal emitter is located, and/or determining the distance to such signal emitter, and (2) determining [i] whether the operator is authorized to operate equipment, [ii] whether the operator is authorized to use equipment to perform a particular function, and/or which functions an operator is authorized to use, from among functions that equipment is configured to perform, and/or [iii] whether the operator is authorized to receive information, and/or which information an operator is authorized to receive, from among information relating to equipment,

based on an identification signal that (a) is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal emitter (or transceiver) and that (b) indicates an identity of the operator, and/or a category to which the operator belongs.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to methods of determining the direction in which a signal emitter is located and/or the distance to a signal emitter, and (1) receiving information from the signal emitter and/or (2) transmitting (to the signal emitter or to any other signal receiver) information about the direction in which the signal emitter is located and/or the distance to the signal emitter.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to methods that comprise (1) determining the direction in which a signal emitter is located, and/or determining the distance to such signal emitter, (2) determining [i] whether the operator is authorized to operate equipment, [ii] whether the operator is authorized to use equipment to perform a particular function, and/or which functions an operator is authorized to use, from among functions that equipment is configured to perform, and/or [iii] whether the operator is authorized to receive information, and/or which information an operator is authorized to receive, from among information relating to equipment, based on an identification signal that (a) is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal emitter (or transceiver) and that (b) indicates an identity of the operator, and/or a category to which the operator belongs, and (3) controlling functions performed by the equipment, sending to the operator information relating to the equipment, and/or sending to the operator information regarding the distance to the signal emitter and/or the direction to the signal emitter based on said determinations (2).

The present inventive subject matter also relates methods of (1) determining the direction in which a signal emitter is located and/or the distance to the signal emitter, and also any one or more of (2) - (4) below:

(2) receiving information about an operator (e.g., the operator’s identity and/or a category to which the operator belongs) or an asset (e.g., the type of asset, a serial number for the asset, the hours of operation for the asset, etc.);

(3) transmitting (to an operator, an asset, or any other signal receiver) information about the direction in which the signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter associated with an operator or a signal emitter associated with an asset) is located;

The present inventive subject matter also relates to methods of controlling functions performed by equipment, based on (1) the location of a signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter being carried by an operator, mounted on an operator, or otherwise associated with an operator) relative to the equipment, and (2) the identity of the operator, and/or a category to which the operator belongs.

Background

There exists an ongoing need to improve, simplify and/or facilitate operation of equipment. There also exists an ongoing need to improve, simplify and/or facilitate locating assets and operators. There also exists an ongoing need to improve, simplify and/or facilitate operation of equipment, in combination with transfer of information and/or sharing of information. There also exists an ongoing need to improve, simplify and/or facilitate locating assets and operators, in combination with transfer of information and/or sharing of information.

Brief Summary of the Inventive Subject Matter

As mentioned above, in some aspects, the present inventive subject matter provides location detectors that are used in detecting location information of a signal emitter (e.g., which is being carried by, mounted on or otherwise associated with an operator, or which is mounted on an asset or otherwise associated with an asset), and to methods that include detecting location information of a signal emitter. Such location information can include the direction (relative to the location detector) of the signal emitter, the distance to the signal emitter, or both the direction of the signal emitter and the distance to the signal emitter. In some aspects, the present inventive subject matter provides such location detectors (i.e., that can detect location information of a signal emitter, in which the location detectors also can also receive information from the signal emitter, and/or transmit (to the signal emitter or to any other signal receiver) information (e.g., location information about the signal emitter), as well as methods that comprise such activities.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to controllers that control equipment (for example, to affect or control various functions performed by equipment) based on location of a signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter being carried by an operator, mounted on an operator, or otherwise associated with an operator) relative to the equipment, as well as methods that comprise such activities.

The present inventive subject matter also relates to controllers that control equipment, based on (1) the location of a signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter being carried by an operator, mounted on an operator, or otherwise associated with an operator) relative to the equipment, and (2) the identity of the operator, and/or a category to which the operator belongs, as well as methods that comprise such activities.

The expression“location,” as used herein, can refer to the“exact location” of a signal emitter relative to the location detector, the“approximate location” of the signal emitter relative to the location detector, or a“general location” of the signal emitter relative to the location detector (a“general location” can be, e.g., within the equipment, e.g., a vehicle, entering the equipment, or within one or more regions outside and near the equipment), based on the perceived location of the signal emitter (e.g., a transmitter or a transceiver) (e.g., associated with an operator or an asset), thus providing a perceived“exact location” of the signal emitter (and, e.g., of an operator or an asset associated with the signal emitter), a perceived“approximate location” of the signal emitter, or a perceived“general location” of the signal emitter.

The expression“signal” is used herein to refer to any signal that propagates as a wave (e.g., a transverse wave, a longitudinal wave or a surface wave), e.g., an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, a seismic wave, etc. Typically, the expression “signal” is used herein to refer to an electromagnetic wave.

The expression“signal emitter” is used herein to refer to any device that is capable of emitting signals, a variety of such signal emitters being well known to persons of skill in the art. A signal emitter can also receive signals, or it can solely emit signals. The expression“transmitter” is used herein to refer to devices that are capable of emitting signals. The expression“transceiver” is used herein to refer to devices that are capable of sending signals and receiving signals. Accordingly, a “signal emitter” can refer to [1] a transmitter, [2] a transceiver, [3] a portion of a device that is a transmitter, or [4] a portion of a device that is a transceiver.

Therefore, as an example, in the expression below that“there are provided controllers that ... [3] affect or control one or more functions performed by the equipment based on the location of the operator-associated signal emitter relative to the equipment, and [4] permit or prevent flow of signals (e.g., flow to a transceiver associated with the operator) of signals that include equipment information from the controller and/or the equipment), based on the identity of the operator and/or the category to which the operator belongs,” the operator-associated signal emitter and the transceiver can be one and the same. Representative examples of signal emitters include smart phones and key fobs.

The expression“operator,” as used herein, refers to any person or other entity (e.g., another piece of equipment, such as a vehicle or a robot) that is associated with a signal emitter (e.g., a transmitter or a transceiver), from which the location detector and/or the controller can receive signals (and/or with which the controller can communicate).

The expression“asset,” as used herein, means any structure (or structures) that might be stored or inventoried. Reference to an“asset” can refer to a single structure or to a plurality of structures (and where“asset” is used, descriptions herein should be understood as including similar items, except that plural“assets” are provided).

Representative examples of“assets” include attachments and implements for heavy equipment (such as heavy-duty vehicles, e.g., toothed buckets, hydraulic hammers, fellers/bunchers, earth compacting vibrators, front loaders, backhoes, man lifts, plows, etc.), storage containers, vehicles, inventoried articles of any nature, etc., as well as groups of items, e.g., groups of attachments and/or implements, groups of storage containers (e.g., a plurality of storage containers that each contain similar items, or that each contain components of a larger structure or system), groups of vehicles (e.g., a fleet of vehicles), groups of inventoried articles, etc. An asset (or a group of assets) can be mobile, stationary, or stationary at some times and mobile at others, the expression mobile including self-moving (such as motorized, e.g., a vehicle), movable by a vehicle (such as a trailer), or both self-moving and movable (such as a motorized trailer), the expression stationary meaning non-moving or movable only to a slight degree, such as a building (e.g., a temporary or permanent office), a site, a natural entity, or any other non-moving (or only slightly moving) physical structure.

An operator can be“associated” with a signal emitter in the sense that an assumption is made (or there is an understanding, or there is knowledge) that the operator is carrying the signal emitter (i.e., an“operator-associated signal emitter”) (or the signal emitter is somehow connected to the operator, e.g., a transmitter or a transceiver is in a pocket of the operator or is attached to a holder which is attached in any way to the operator or an article of clothing or accessory, e.g., a belt, being worn by the operator). Accordingly, references to the location of an operator herein are also references to the location of an operator-associated signal emitter, i.e., a signal emitter associated with the operator. Likewise, an asset can be“associated” with a signal emitter, in that the asset-associated signal emitter is known to be mounted on the asset (or otherwise fixed relative to the asset), and references to the location of an asset are also thus references to the locations of the asset-associated signal emitter.

A signal emitter can also convey“operator information” or“asset information” (e.g., by sending a signal) that identifies to some degree an operator (e.g., the operator’s identify or a category or classification of operators to which the operator belongs) or an asset (e.g., the type of asset, a serial number of the asset, the number of hours of use of the asset, etc.).

The expression“equipment,” as used herein, can refer to any of a wide range of equipment (representative examples of such equipment can include, e.g., integrated auxiliary equipment and attachments of automotive and non- automotive equipment). The expression“equipment,” as used herein, can refer to a piece of equipment or an assembly of a plurality of pieces of equipment (i.e., two or more pieces of equipment). Equipment can comprise one or more components and/or one or more sub-systems.

An expression indicating that a controller is“associated with” equipment means that the controller is intended to control at least some functions performed by the equipment. Typically, a controller that is“associated with” equipment is mounted in or on the equipment, or is adjacent to the equipment (i.e., adjacent in the sense that there is no other controller that is closer to the equipment than the controller that is “adjacent” to the equipment, and there is no other equipment that is closer to the controller than the equipment to which the controller is“adjacent”).

The expression“control equipment” (e.g., in the expression“controllers that have the ability to control equipment”), as used herein, can refer to controlling any function or functions that the equipment (including any components or sub-systems included in the equipment) is capable of performing, including but not limited to: switching on and off components or sub-systems of the equipment, e.g., initiating (resuming) or terminating (interrupting) flow of electricity to any such component or sub-system; allowing or preventing flow of signals regarding the equipment, e.g., signals that include equipment information (i.e., information regarding equipment, components of equipment and/or sub-systems of equipment); operating components and/or sub-systems of equipment, e.g., causing one or more elements in the equipment to move.

In some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, there are provided controllers that [1] detect the location of a signal emitter associated with an operator (a location of the signal emitter being indicative of the location of the operator) relative to equipment (i.e., typically an operator in the vicinity of the equipment, e.g., within several hundred feet, within one hundred feet, within twenty-five feet), and [2] affect or control one or more functions performed by the equipment based on the location of the operator-associated signal emitter (i.e., the signal emitter associated with the operator, indicative of the location of the operator) relative to the equipment. In many cases, the location of the operator-associated signal emitter relative to the equipment includes [1] information as to the distance (or approximate distance) between the operator-associated signal emitter and the equipment and [2] information as to the direction in which the signal emitter is located, i.e., the angular position (or approximate angular position) of the operator-associated signal emitter relative to the equipment, e.g., relative to a line defined by the equipment (e.g., an imaginary line that [1] extends through the front and the rear of the equipment and that is in an imaginary plane that substantially bisects the equipment between right and left sides, or between a driver’s side and a passenger’s side, and that [2] is approximately parallel to a surface on which the equipment is positioned, e.g., the ground, and/or is approximately horizontal). In some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, there are provided controllers that [1] detect the location of an operator-associated signal emitter relative to equipment (as mentioned above), [2] receive operator information that indicates the identity of an operator and/or receive information that indicates a category to which an operator belongs, e.g., a classification, from among a group of possible classifications, of which the operator is a member (e.g., to indicate whether the operator is authorized to operate the equipment, and/or to indicate what functions of the equipment the operator is authorized to operate, and/or to indicate a scope of equipment information, i.e., information about the equipment, to which the operator has been granted access), and [3] affect or control one or more functions performed by the equipment based [a] on the location of the operator-associated signal emitter relative to the equipment and [b] the identity of the operator and/or the category to which the operator belongs.

In some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, there are provided controllers that receive operator information as to the identity of an operator and/or receive operator information as to a category to which an operator belongs, as mentioned above, and permit or prevent flow (e.g., flow to a transceiver associated with an operator or to any other signal receiver, such as a signal receiver in an office) of signals that include equipment information from the controller and/or the equipment), based on the identity of the operator and/or the category to which the operator belongs.

In some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, there are provided controllers that [1] detect the location of an operator-associated signal emitter relative to equipment (as mentioned above), [2] receive operator information as to the identity of an operator and/or receive operator information as to a category to which an operator belongs (as mentioned above), [3] affect or control one or more functions performed by the equipment based on the location of the operator-associated signal emitter relative to the equipment, and [4] permit or prevent flow of signals (e.g., flow to a transceiver associated with the operator, or any other signal receiver, such as a signal receiver in an office) of signals that include equipment information from the controller and/or the equipment), based on the identity of the operator and/or the category to which the operator belongs.

Representative examples of functions performed by equipment, which functions can be controlled by controllers and/or methods in accordance with the present inventive subject matter, include (and are not limited to) turning on (and/or off) one or more headlights, turning on (and/or off) one or more cab lights, turning on (and/or off) one or more stair light (especially for large vehicles), turning on (and/or off) one or more engines or motors, unlocking (and/or locking) one or more doors, activating one or more door handles, opening (and/or closing) one or more doors, releasing (and/or setting) one or more parking brakes, activating (and/or deactivating) one or more seat sensors, turning on (and/or off) one or more computer functions in the equipment, activating (and/or deactivating) one or more communication functions, performing (and/or halting) one or more external equipment functions, disengaging (and/or engaging) one or more hood latches, disengaging (and/or engaging) one or more access panel latches, etc.

Controllers (and/or any signal receiver, and/or any signal emitter or

transceiver) in accordance with some aspects of the present inventive subject matter can communicate through open protocols, such as Blue Tooth^®.

The expression“equipment information,” as used herein, means any item of information regarding one or more pieces of equipment, information regarding one or more components of a piece of equipment (or pieces of equipment) and/or information regarding one or more sub-systems of a piece equipment (or pieces of equipment).

For example,“equipment information” can refer to a single attribute of a single piece of equipment, a single attribute about a plurality of pieces of equipment (or a plurality of a type of equipment), plural attributes about a single piece of equipment or plural attributes about a plurality of pieces of equipment (in which the information about one piece of equipment can be the same type of information as the information about any other piece of equipment, the information about one piece of equipment can be different from the information about any other piece of equipment, and/or the information about one piece of equipment and any other piece of equipment can be the same for some type(s) of information and different for other type(s) of

information). Such equipment information can include any information about any one or more pieces of equipment, component or sub-system, e.g., hours of use, diagnostic information (e.g., information regarding how to diagnose or troubleshoot a problem with the equipment, component or sub-system), information about how to make a repair, information about previous repairs, concerns or problems with the equipment, component or sub-system, information about parts for the equipment, component or sub-system, information about typical repair time for various issues with the equipment, component or sub-system, information about cost for parts for the equipment, component or sub-system, etc.

Some aspects of the present inventive subject matter provide location detectors that are configured to determine a direction to which a signal emitter is located and/or a distance to such a signal emitter. As discussed herein, some location detectors in accordance with the present inventive subject matter are configured to be capable of performing one or more other functions in addition to determining a direction to which a signal emitter is located and/or a distance to such a signal emitter. A location detector as described herein can be employed in a controller (discussed above), e.g., to perform the function of determining the location of an operator (associated with a signal emitter) relative to a piece of equipment. A location detector as described herein can alternatively be employed as a separate component that determines a direction in which an asset is located and/or that determines the distance to such an asset. As another alternative, a location detector as described herein can be included in a system that performs functions in addition to determining a direction in which an asset is located and/or determining the distance to such asset.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, there is provided a location detector, comprising:

a phased array of at least a first antenna, a second antenna and a third antenna; and a location calculation unit,

each of the first antenna, the second antenna and the third antenna configured to receive signals from signal emitters,

the location calculation unit configured to determine location information of a first signal emitter by comparing at least: a phase of a first portion of a wavefront of a first signal as received by the first antenna, the first signal emitted by the signal emitter, a phase of a second portion of the wavefront of the first signal as received by the second antenna, and a phase of a third portion of the wavefront of the first signal as received by the third antenna.

As discussed below in more detail, combinations of phase relationships between pairs of antennas and among all three or more antennas as a single antenna system can be used in the determination of location information of the transmitting device.

The phased array can comprise three or more antennas, e.g., it can comprise four antennas, five antennas, six antennas, seven antennas, eight antennas, nine antennas, etc., and the location calculation unit is configured to determine location information by comparing the phase of portions of a wavefront of a signal as received by respective antennas (some or all of the antennas in the phased array).

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the location information comprises a direction in which the first signal emitter is located relative to the phased array. In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the location information comprises a distance from the phased array to the first signal emitter.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the location information comprises:

a direction in which the first signal emitter is located relative to the phased array; and

a distance to the first signal emitter from the phased array.

In some embodiments according to the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the signals emitted by the signal emitter are polarized (i.e., the signal emitter is polarized), and/or the antennas are polarized.

Persons of skill in the art are familiar with linear polarization (i.e., the electric field of light is confined to a single plane along the direction of propagation)(e.g., vertical polarization or horizontal polarization), circular polarization (i.e., the electric field of light consists of two linear components that are perpendicular to each other, equal in amplitude, but have a phase difference of p/2, such that the resulting electric field rotates in a circle around the direction of propagation and, depending on the rotation direction, is referred to as left-hand circularly polarized light or right-hand circularly polarized light) and elliptical polarization (similar to circular polarization, except that the two linear components are not equal in magnitude), and those expressions are used herein in a way that is consistent with the well-known

understanding of persons of skill in the art.

In some embodiments according to the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the signal emitter is polarized and the antennas are polarized, and the polarizations of the signal emitter and the antennas are the same. In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:

the first antenna is circularly polarized;

the second antenna is circularly polarized; and

the third antenna is circularly polarized, and in some of such embodiments, the first, second and third antennas are each right-hand circularly polarized or the first, second and third antennas are each left-hand circularly polarized.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:

the first antenna is circularly polarized;

the second antenna is circularly polarized;

the third antenna is circularly polarized; and

the first signal emitter is linearly polarized, and in some of such embodiments, the first, second and third antennas are each right-hand circularly polarized (and the first signal emitter is vertically polarized or horizontally polarized), or the first, second and third antennas are each left-hand circularly polarized (and the first signal emitter is vertically polarized or horizontally polarized).

the first antenna is circularly polarized;

the second antenna is circularly polarized;

the third antenna is circularly polarized; and

the first signal emitter is circularly polarized, and in some of such embodiments, the first, second and third antennas and the first signal emitter are each right-hand circularly polarized or the first, second and third antennas and the first signal emitter are each left-hand circularly polarized.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the location detector is configured to also transmit at least some of the location information (to the signal emitter or to any other signal receiver).

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the location detector is configured to also receive information from the first signal emitter (in some of such embodiments, the information comprises operator information and/or asset information), and/or the location detector is configured to transmit (to the signal emitter or to any other signal receiver) at least some of the location information.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the location detector is configured to also do any one or more of: receive information about an operator (e.g., an operator’s identity and/or a category to which an operator belongs) or an asset (e.g., a type of asset, a serial number of an asset, hours of operation of an asset); transmit (to an operator, an asset, or any other signal receiver) information about the direction in which the signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter associated with an operator or a signal emitter associated with an asset) is located; transmit (to an operator, an asset, or any other signal receiver) information about the distance to a signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter associated with an operator or a signal emitter associated with an asset); transmit (to an operator, an asset, or any other signal receiver) any other information (e.g., information relating to equipment, information relating to an asset, information relating to the operator or any other operator, etc.).

In accordance with a second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, there is provided a controller comprising a location detector (as discussed above), wherein the controller emits a signal that instructs first equipment to perform at least a first function upon the location detector determining the location of a signal emitter associated with an operator to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location.

In some embodiments according to the second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the first location is a general location (or an exact location). In some of such embodiments, the first location is in the first equipment. In some of such embodiments, the first location is a location that indicates that an operator is entering the first equipment.

In some embodiments according to the second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight;

turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light;

turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment;

turning on at least one engine;

unlocking at least one door;

releasing at least one parking brake; and

activating at least one communication function. In some embodiments according to the second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the controller emits a signal that instructs the first equipment to perform at least a second function upon the location detector determining the location of the signal emitter to be in any of a second group of locations, the second group of locations comprising at least a second location. In some of such embodiments, the first location is entering the first equipment and the second location is in the first equipment (and in some of these embodiments, the first function is selected from the group consisting of turning on at least one headlight, turning on at least one cab light, and turning on at least one stair light, and the second function comprises turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment).

In some embodiments according to the second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the controller controls equipment based on (1) location of a signal emitter (e.g., a signal emitter being carried by and operator, mounted on an operator, or otherwise associated with an operator) relative to the equipment, and (2) the identity of the operator and/or a category to which the operator belongs.

As mentioned above, the expression“equipment,” as used herein, refers to any of a wide range of equipment (representative examples of such equipment can include, e.g., integrated auxiliary equipment and attachments of automotive and nonautomotive equipment, and can refer to a piece of equipment or an assembly of a plurality of pieces of equipment, and can comprise one or more components and/or one or more sub-systems). A controller can be mounted or positioned at any desired location in, on, or relative to the equipment.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present inventive subject matter, there is provided a controller [1] that comprises a location detector and [2] that is configured to determine:

(1) whether an operator is authorized to operate equipment, (2) which functions an operator is authorized to use, from among functions that equipment is configured to perform, and/or

(3) which information an operator is authorized to receive, from among information relating to equipment, based on an identification signal that is received by the controller (e.g., via one or more of the antennas in the controller, or via an additional signal receiver) from an operator-associated signal emitter (or transceiver) and that indicates (a) an identity of the operator, and/or (b) a category to which the operator belongs.

In some embodiments according to the third aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the controller is configured to prevent or allow information to be transmitted from the controller to an operator-associated signal receiver or an operator-associated signal transceiver, based on the identification signal.

In some embodiments according to the third aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the controller emits a signal that instructs first equipment to perform at least a first function upon:

[1] the location detector determining a location of an operator-associated signal emitter to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location,

[2] the controller receiving information (e.g., via one or more of the antennas in the controller, or via an additional signal receiver) that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the operator- associated signal emitter, and [3] the controller determining that the operator associated with the operator-associated signal emitter is authorized to operate the first equipment, based on the identity of the operator associated with the operator-associated signal emitter.

In some embodiments according to the third aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the controller transmits first equipment information to an operator- associated signal transceiver, said first equipment information comprising information relating to first equipment, said first equipment information comprising information requested in an information request signal received from the operator-associated signal transceiver, upon:

[1] the location detector determining a location of the operator- associated signal transceiver to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location,

[2] the controller receiving information (e.g., via one or more of the antennas in the controller, or via an additional signal receiver) that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the operator- associated signal transceiver,

[3] the controller receiving from the operator-associated signal transceiver said information request signal, and

[4] the controller determining that the operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver is authorized to receive said first equipment information based on the identity of the operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver. In some embodiments according to the third aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the signal emitter comprises an operator-associated signal transceiver, and

the controller is prevented from transmitting location information to said operator-associated signal transceiver unless:

[1] the location detector determines a location of the operator-associated signal transceiver to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location,

[2] the controller receives information that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver, and

[3] the controller determines that the operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver is authorized to receive said location

information based on the identity of the operator associated with the operator- associated signal transceiver.

[1] the location detector determining a location of an operator-associated signal emitter to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location, [2] the controller receiving information (e.g., via one or more of the antennas in the controller, or via an additional signal receiver) that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the operator- associated signal emitter belongs, and

[3] the controller determining that the operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver is authorized to operate the first equipment, based on the category to which the operator associated with the operator-associated signal emitter belongs.

[2] the controller receiving information (e.g., via one or more of the antennas in the controller, or via an additional signal receiver) that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the operator- associated signal transceiver belongs,

[3] the controller receiving from the operator-associated signal transceiver said information request signal, and [4] the controller determining that the operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver is authorized to receive said first equipment information based on the category to which the operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver belongs.

In some embodiments according to the third aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:

the signal emitter comprises an operator-associated signal transceiver, and the controller is prevented from transmitting location information to said operator-associated signal transceiver unless:

[2] the controller receives information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver belongs, and

[3] the controller determines that the operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver is authorized to receive said location information based on the category to which the operator associated with the operator- associated signal transceiver belongs.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, there is provided a method that comprises:

receiving in a first antenna a first portion of a wavefront of a first signal emitted from a signal emitter, the first antenna in a phased array comprising at least the first antenna, a second antenna and a third antenna, the phased array in a location detector;

detecting a phase of the first portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the first antenna;

receiving a second portion of the wavefront of the first signal in the second antenna;

detecting a phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna;

receiving a third portion of the wavefront of the first signal in the third antenna; detecting a phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna; and

comparing:

the phase of the first portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the first antenna,

the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna, and

the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna.

As above, and as discussed below in more detail, combinations of phase relationships between pairs of antennas and among three or more antennas as a single antenna system can be used in the determination of the location of the transmitting device.

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:

the phased array further comprises a fourth antenna, and

the method further comprises:

receiving a fourth portion of the wavefront of the first signal in the fourth antenna; detecting a phase of the fourth portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the fourth antenna; and

comparing:

the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna,

the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna, and

the phase of the fourth portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the fourth antenna.

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the comparing the phase of the first portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the first antenna, the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna, and the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna is used to determine an angle Q defined by [3] an imaginary horizontal line extending from a point directly beneath the location detector to the signal emitter and [4] an imaginary horizontal reference line extending through the point directly beneath the location detector, the angle Q defining an angular location of the signal emitter relative to the location detector. In some of such embodiments: the location detector is in first equipment, and the imaginary horizontal reference line is in an imaginary plane that bisects the first equipment, the method further comprises transmitting the angle Q from the location detector to the signal emitter, and/or the method further comprises transmitting the angle Q from the location detector to a signal receiver (i.e., a signal receiver which is distinct from the signal emitter), for example, transmitting location information pertaining to an asset to a remote location, e.g., an office.

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the comparing the phase of the first portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the first antenna, the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna, and the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna is used to determine an angle f, the angle f being an angle defined by [1] an imaginary line extending from the location detector to the signal emitter and [2] an imaginary vertical line extending downward from the location detector. In some of such embodiments, the method further comprises determining a distance between the location detector and the signal emitter by calculating the value of (a height of the location detector relative to an estimated height of the signal emitter) / (cos cp), and/or transmitting the distance between the location detector and the signal emitter from the location detector to the signal emitter (or to any other signal receiver).

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the comparing the phase of the first portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the first antenna, the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna, and the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna is used to determine a first angle f and a second angle Q, the first angle f being an angle defined by [1] an imaginary line extending from the location detector to the signal emitter and [2] an imaginary vertical line extending downward from the location detector, the second angle Q being an angle defined by [3] an imaginary horizontal line extending from a point directly beneath the location detector to the signal emitter and [4] an imaginary horizontal reference line extending through the point directly beneath the location detector, the second angle Q defining an angular location of the signal emitter relative to the location detector. In some of such embodiments: the location detector is in first equipment, and the imaginary horizontal reference line is in an imaginary plane that bisects the first equipment (e.g., an imaginary vertical plane that divides the first equipment into left and right sides that are substantially mirror images), the method further comprises determining a distance between the location detector and the signal emitter by calculating the value of (a height of the location detector relative to an estimated height of the signal emitter) / (cos <p)(and optionally further comprises [1] transmitting the angle Q and distance between the location detector and the signal emitter from the location detector to the signal emitter, and/or [2] transmitting the angle Q and distance between the location detector and the signal emitter from the location detector to a signal receiver (e.g., a signal receiver that is distinct from the signal emitter), and/or the method further comprises determining a distance between [1] a point that is vertically below the signal emitter and that is at a height equal to an estimated height of the signal emitter, and [2] the signal emitter, by calculating the value of (a height of the location detector relative to an estimated height of the signal emitter) x (tan f). In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:

the first antenna is circularly polarized;

the second antenna is circularly polarized; and

the third antenna is circularly polarized.

the first antenna is circularly polarized;

the second antenna is circularly polarized;

the third antenna is circularly polarized; and

the signal emitter is linearly polarized.

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the method further comprises transmitting operator information and/or asset information from the controller to the location detector.

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the method further comprises transmitting location information, operator information, asset information, equipment information, and/or any other information, from the controller to the signal emitter and/or any other receiver.

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the location detector is in a controller, and the method further comprises emitting from the controller a signal that instructs first equipment to perform at least a first function, upon the location detector determining a location of the signal emitter to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location, and in some of such embodiments, the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight;

turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light;

turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment;

turning on at least one engine;

unlocking at least one door;

releasing at least one parking brake; and

activating at least one communication function.

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the location detector is in a controller, and the method further comprises emitting from the controller a signal that instructs the first equipment to perform at least a second function, upon the location detector determining the location of the signal emitter to be in any of a second group of locations, the second group of locations comprising at least a second location. In some of such embodiments, the first location is entering the first equipment and the second location is in the first equipment,

and/or

the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight;

turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light,

and the second function comprises turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment.

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the location detector is in a controller; and

the method further comprises the controller receiving an identification signal from the signal emitter, the identification signal comprising information that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the signal emitter. In some of such embodiments, the method further comprises:

the controller determining whether the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to operate the first equipment based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter;

the controller preventing or allowing the operator associated with the signal emitter to operate the first equipment based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter;

the controller determining [1] whether an operator is authorized to use a function, and/or [2] which functions the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to use, from among functions that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter;

the controller preventing or allowing the operator associated with the signal emitter to operate at least one function that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter;

the controller determining [1] whether an operator is authorized to receive information, and/or [2] which information the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to receive, from among information relating to the first equipment, based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter; and/or

the signal emitter is part of a signal transceiver, and the method further comprises the controller preventing or allowing information to be transmitted to the signal transceiver, based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter. In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein,

the location detector is in a controller; and

the method further comprises the controller receiving an identification signal from the signal emitter, the identification signal comprising information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the signal emitter belongs. In some of such embodiments, the method further comprises:

the controller determining whether the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to operate the first equipment based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs;

the controller preventing or allowing the operator associated with the signal emitter to operate the first equipment based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs;

the controller determining [1] whether an operator is authorized to use a function, and/or [2] which functions the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to use, from among functions that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs;

the controller preventing or allowing the operator associated with the signal emitter to operate at least one function that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs;

the controller determining [1] whether an operator is authorized to receive information, and/or [2] which information the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to receive, from among information relating to the first equipment, based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs; and/or the signal emitter is part of a signal transceiver, and the method further comprises:

the controller receiving from the signal transceiver a request for information, and

the controller preventing or allowing said information to be transmitted to the signal transceiver, based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs.

the location detector is in a controller; and

the method further comprises emitting from the controller a signal that instructs the first equipment to perform at least a first function, upon:

the controller determining a location of the signal emitter to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location,

the controller receiving an identification signal from the signal emitter, the identification signal comprising information that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the signal emitter, and

the controller determining that the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to operate first equipment, based on the identification signal. In some of such embodiments, the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight;

turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light;

turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment;

turning on at least one engine;

unlocking at least one door; releasing at least one parking brake; and

activating at least one communication function.

the location detector is in a controller; and

the controller receiving an identification signal from the signal emitter, the identification signal comprising information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the signal emitter belongs, and

turning on at least one headlight;

turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light;

turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment;

turning on at least one engine;

unlocking at least one door;

releasing at least one parking brake; and

activating at least one communication function.

In some embodiments according to the fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein: the location detector is in a controller;

the signal emitter is part of an operator-associated signal transceiver; and

the method further comprises the controller transmitting first equipment information to the operator-associated signal transceiver, upon:

the controller receiving from an operator-associated signal transceiver operator information that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver,

the controller receiving an information request signal from the operator-associated signal transceiver, said information request signal requesting first equipment information, and

the controller determining that the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to receive information relating to first equipment based on the operator information.

the location detector is in a controller;

the signal emitter is part of an operator-associated signal transceiver; and

the controller determining a location of the signal emitter to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location, the controller receiving from an operator-associated signal transceiver operator information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver belongs,

the location detector is in a controller;

the signal emitter is part of an operator-associated signal transceiver; and

said comparing the phase of the first portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the first antenna, the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna, and the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna is used to determine location information of the signal emitter relative to the location detector; and

the method further comprises the controller transmitting at least some of said location information to the operator-associated signal transceiver, upon:

the controller receiving from an operator-associated signal transceiver operator information that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver, and the controller determining that the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to receive said location information based on the operator information.

the location detector is in a controller;

the signal emitter is part of an operator-associated signal transceiver; and

the controller receiving from an operator-associated signal transceiver operator information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver belongs, and

the controller determining that the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to receive said location information based on the operator information.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, there is provided an array of antennas, comprising: at least a first circuit board comprising a first circuit board first side and a first circuit board second side;

at least a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, each of the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the third antenna element on the first circuit board first side;

at least a first combiner/splitter, a second combiner/splitter, and a third combiner/splitter, each of the first combiner/splitter, the second combiner/splitter, and the third combiner/splitter on the first circuit board second side;

at least first and second feed vias extending from the first antenna element, through the first circuit board to the first combiner/splitter on the first circuit board second side;

at least third and fourth feed vias extending from the second antenna element, through the first circuit board to the second combiner/splitter on the first circuit board second side;

at least fifth and sixth feed vias extending from the third antenna element, through the first circuit board to the third combiner/splitter on the first circuit board second side.

Persons of skill in the art are familiar with a wide variety of circuit boards, and any suitable circuit board can be used as the first circuit board referred to above.

Persons of skill in the art are familiar with antenna elements, and any suitable antenna element (or elements) can be used as any of the antenna elements described herein (each of the antennas in an array can be similar to each of the other antennas in the array, or any one or more antennas in an array can differ from any one or more other antennas in the array).

Persons of skill in the art are familiar with circular polarization antenna combiner/splitters, and any suitable combiner/splitter (or combiner/splitters) can be used as any of the combiner/splitters described herein (each of the combiner/splitters in an array can be similar to each of the other combiner/splitters in the array, or any one or more combiner/splitters in an array can differ from any one or more other combiner/splitters in the array).

Persons of skill in the art are familiar with feed vias, and any suitable feed via (or feed vias) can be used as any of the feed vias described herein (each of the feed vias in an array can be similar to each of the other feed vias in the array, or any one or more feed vias in an array can differ from any one or more other feed vias in the array).

As will be recognized by persons of skill in the art: where a signal is being received by an array in accordance with the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, the signal is received in one or more of the antenna elements in the array, and, for the (or each) antenna element that receives the signal, the signal travels through the two feed vias (for that antenna element) to the combiner/splitter for that antenna element, where the respective signals from the two feed vias are combined into a single signal; and where a signal is being transmitted by one or more antenna elements in an array in accordance with the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, for the (or each) antenna element from which the signal is transmitted, the signal is split into two signals by the combiner/splitter for that antenna element, the two signal travel through the respective two feed vias for that antenna element, and the signals are transmitted from the antenna element.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the array of antennas further comprises at least a first clock source that enables each of the at least first, second and third antenna elements to have a coherent phase relationship. Persons of skill in the art are familiar with clock sources, and with configuring antenna components such that a plurality of antenna elements have a coherent phase relationship.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, each of the at least first, second and third combiner/splitters is a 90 degree phase coupler / 90 degree phase splitter. Persons of skill in the art are familiar with 90 degree phase coupler / 90 degree phase splitter components, and any suitable 90 degree phase coupler / 90 degree phase splitter component can be employed in devices and methods in accordance with the present inventive subject matter.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the at least a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element consists of the first antenna element, the second antenna element, the third antenna element and a fourth antenna element.

The inventive subject matter may be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the inventive subject matter.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures

Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing that depicts a vehicle, an operator, and an imaginary right triangle (in which the vehicle and the operator are on the same horizontal elevation). A side of the first right triangle that is adjacent to an angle f extends vertically downward from a controller 11 to a location which (1) is directly below the controller 11 , and (2) is in a horizontal plane defined by the height of a signal transceiver 12 carried by an operator 13. A side of the first right triangle that is opposite to the angle f extends horizontally along the horizontal plane from the signal transceiver 12 to the location that is (1) directly below the controller 11 and (2) in the horizontal plane. The hypotenuse of the first right triangle extends from the controller 11 to the signal transceiver 12.

Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing that depicts a second imaginary right triangle. The hypotenuse of the second right triangle is equal to the side of the first right triangle that is opposite the angle f.

Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing that depicts a signal from a transmitter 30 that is assumed to propagate in parallel through space, in which a phase (yAΐ) of the signal is observed by a first receive antenna 31 and a phase (cp_A2) of the signal is observed by a second receive antenna 32.

Fig. 4 is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of a phased array that comprises four antenna elements

Figs. 5-9 are schematic geometric diagrams that are used to explain equations described herein.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a representative combination of components that can be used as a controller in accordance with the present inventive subject matter.

Fig. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an example of heterodyne receiver architecture.

Fig. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an example of homodyne receiver architecture.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of another representative combination of components that can be used as a controller in accordance with the present inventive subject matter.

Fig. 14 is a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of a phased array that comprises four antenna elements.

Figs. 15 and 16 are schematic drawings depicting an array of antennas in accordance with the present inventive subject matter. Detailed Description of the Inventive Subject Matter

As described above, some aspects of the present inventive subject matter comprise a location detector that comprises a phased array of at least a first antenna, a second antenna, a third antenna, and a location calculation unit.

Persons of skill in the art are familiar with a variety of antennas that can receive a signal and detect the phase of the signal, and any such antennas, as suitable, can be used in location detectors in accordance with the present inventive subject matter. Suitable examples of antennas include patch antenna elements.

The location calculation unit comprises components that can receive the respective phases of a wavefront of a signal as received by each of the three (or four, or more) antennas. As detailed below (in the discussion of“phase difference of arrival”), the location calculation unit determines two angles, phi (f) (Fig. 1) and theta (Q) (see Fig. 2), based on the respective phases of a wavefront of a signal (emitted from a signal transceiver 12) as received individually by each of the antennas in the phased array.

Fig. 4 is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of a phased array that comprises four antenna elements. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, surfaces of the four antenna elements are substantially co-planar.

Fig. 14 is a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of a phased array that comprises four antenna elements. As discussed above, in some embodiments, the antennas in the phased array are circularly polarized (all of them right-hand circularly polarized or all of them left-hand circularly polarized). Figs. 14 depicts an

embodiment in which each of four antenna elements is circularly polarized. In Fig.

14, the arrows in the upper left antenna point to feed vias 141, and the arrows in the lower left antenna depict vertical polarization and horizontal polarization, to (in combination) create circular polarization. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 14, surfaces of the four antenna elements are substantially co-planar.

Fig. 1 depicts a first right triangle. A side of the first right triangle which is adjacent to the angle f extends vertically downward from a controller 11 to a location which is directly below the controller 11 and which is in a horizontal plane defined by the height of a signal transceiver 12 carried by an operator 13 (i.e., an estimated height of the signal transceiver 12). The controller 11 comprises the phased array, and is (in this embodiment) mounted on the ceiling of the cab of a vehicle 10. As noted above, in accordance with the present inventive subject matter, a controller (and/or a location detector as part of a controller) can be mounted or positioned at any desired location in, on, or relative to a piece of equipment (such as a vehicle). A side of the first right triangle which is opposite to the angle f extends horizontally along the horizontal plane from the signal transceiver 12 to the location directly below the controller 11 in the horizontal plane. The hypotenuse of the first right triangle extends from the controller 11 to the signal transceiver 12.

The side of the first right triangle which is adjacent to the angle f is known, i.e., it is equal to the vertical distance from the controller 11 to the horizontal plane at a height corresponding to the height the transceiver 12 is assumed to be (or expected to be, or calculated to be, or known to be). As noted above, the angle f is determined by the location calculation unit based on the respective phases of the wavefront of the signal as received by the antennas in the phased array. Using trigonometry (sin f = opposite side / hypotenuse; cos f = adjacent side / hypotenuse; tan f = opposite side / adjacent side), the location of the operator 13 relative to the vehicle 10 is determined, the location being [1] the distance (or approximate distance) between the operator and the equipment and [2] the angular position (or approximate angular position) of the operator relative to the equipment, e.g., relative to a line defined by the equipment (e.g., a line that extends through a front and a rear of the equipment, approximately parallel to a surface on which the equipment is positioned, e.g., the ground). From this location information, general location information can also be generated, e.g., whether the operator is within the vehicle, entering the vehicle, or within one or more regions outside and near the vehicle. Specifically: the distance between the controller and the signal emitter is equal to (a height of the controller relative to an estimated height of the signal emitter) / (cos f), and the distance between [1] a point that is vertically below the signal emitter and that is at a height equal to an estimated height of the signal emitter, and [2] the signal emitter is equal to (a height of the controller relative to an estimated height of the signal emitter) x (tan f).

Fig. 2 depicts a second right triangle. The hypotenuse of the second right triangle is equal to the side of the first right triangle that is opposite the angle f. As noted above, the angle Q is determined by the location calculation unit based on the respective phases of the wavefront of the signal as received by the antennas in the phased array.

As noted above, the location calculation unit determines the angles, phi (f) (Fig. 1) and theta (Q) (see Fig. 2), based on the respective phases of a wavefront of a signal (emitted from a signal transceiver 12) as received individually by each of the antennas in the phased array, using a“phase difference of arrival” computation.

Below is a discussion of a representative example of such“phase difference of arrival” computation.

In the arrangement depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, the equipment and the operator are on level terrain, whereby the vertical imaginary line segment extending from the controller 11 to a location directly below the controller (i.e., the line segment that is adjacent to the angle f) is perpendicular to the horizontal line segment extending from the location directly below the controller to the signal transceiver 12, whereby trigonometry can be used to determine the distance between the controller 11 and the signal transceiver 12. In the event that the equipment and/or the operator are not on level terrain, appropriate adjustments can be made as necessary (e.g., adjusting the value for the vertical imaginary line segment to account for a difference in the vertical location of the terrain above the controller 11 relative to the terrain above the signal transceiver.

Estimating the angle of arrival (AoA) of an RF signal by an antenna array relies on detecting the phase of different portions of the wavefront of the signal as the wavefront arrives at the respective antenna elements. Due to the difference in propagation distances from the wavefront of the signal source to individual receive antennas (so long as the wave is not traveling in a direction normal to a plane in which the antennas are aligned), each antenna observes a different phase shift of a respective portion of the wavefront of the signal. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, if a signal from a transmitter 30 is assumed to propagate in parallel through space, then the phase (f_Aΐ) of a portion of the wavefront observed by a first receive antenna 31 and the phase (y_A2) of a portion of the wavefront observed by a second receive antenna 32 can be represented as a function of the angle of incidence 0, and the distance d separating the antennas as set forth below:

(pAi - q>A2 = 2 P d (sin 0, / l), where l is the wavelength of the signal. Therefore one needs to know only the phase difference in the antenna array to estimate the angle of incidence.

As described above, two antenna elements will provide the information needed to calculate the angle 0;, but the angle 0i has ambiguity by itself. The angle could be from either of two directions. A third antenna element that is orthogonal to the second antenna element provides the orthogonal angle, that is also ambiguous by itself. The intersection of the two angles removes ambiguity. In accordance with some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, a fourth patch antenna provides further information. The combination of phase deltas across all patches can be used to improve accuracy.

In an ideal case, the received portions of the wavefront of the signal at each antenna element are delayed replicas of the incident plane wave. The individual antenna outputs can, however, be corrupted with noise and interference from other signals, multipath and other array properties, making the estimation of angle of arrival (AoA) more complicated.

In some aspects in accordance with the present inventive subject matter, an angle of arrival (AoA) calculation includes taking induced voltages at each antenna element as inputs and computing an estimate for the angle of arrival (AoA) based on phase information. To estimate two unknown parameters, azimuth and elevation (Q and f, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2), a planar antenna array can be provided. In such an array, the antenna elements are placed on a uniform rectangular grid along x and y axes where the lateral spacing between each two laterally adjacent elements is d_x (m) and the vertical spacing between each two vertically adjacent elements is d_y (m). The total number of elements is (M+l) x (N+l) and the number of signals incident on the array is P+1. Hence, the voltage x(m,n) induced at each antenna element is given by:

where l is the wavelength of incident signal.

The goal is to estimate the unknown angles of arrival q_r and f_r, together with their amplitudes and phases, A_p and g_r.

In accordance with the present inventive subject matter, there is only one target signal, which comes from the signal emitter, and all other signals are considered as interference + noise.

The total number of antenna elements is 2 x 2=4, M=N=1, and the antenna elements are labeled A, B, C and D in Fig. 4, where A-B is along the x-axis (as is D- C) and A-D is along the y-axis (as is B-C)(d_x = d_y = d).

Methods of estimating the number of signals P+1 and their directions are known in the art. Such estimation methods generally fall in one of three families: Maximum Likelihood, Beamformers and Subspace Methods.

A popular subspace method called Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC), calculates the spatial (pseudo) spectrum using the steering vector a (q, f) of the uniform antenna array and eigenvalue decomposition of the sample covariance matrix R_xx = EAE ¹, where A is the diagonal matrix containing eigenvalues and E contains the corresponding eigenvectors. The spatial (pseudo) spectrum is then:

1

R(b, f) a^H (q, f)EE^Ha{q, f) where the angle of arrival (AoA) produces the largest peak in R(q, <p).

The peak can be discovered by completing a 2 dimensional (2D) peak search. The antenna steering vector a (q, f) is a transfer function from signal source to the antenna array which is treated as a priori information. It can be calculated based on the geometry of the array or measured using the exact antenna setup.

In accordance with some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, the steering vector can be calculated based on the geometry of the array (discussed above), which gives the array:

steering vector

and ° is the Khatri-Rao product. (The induced voltage x (m,n) at each array element (as discussed above) can be modeled as the integrated received signal x(t)=As(t) + n(t), where A is the steering vector, s(t) is the incident signal and n(t) is the additive white Gaussian noise.)

In some aspects in accordance with the present inventive subject matter, the AoA estimation is improved by also measuring the steering vector using a multi-patch (e.g., three patch or four-patch) antenna as described herein. The measured steering vector is compared to the theoretical model to see where there are any differences between the ideal and real setup.

For example, the patch antenna can be rotated in increments of 7.2 degrees from 0 to ±86.4° (from the z axis toward the x axis) referred to as the step angle and tilted in same increments from 0 to ±86.4° (from the z axis toward the y axis) referred to as the tilt angle. The relationships between step and tilt angles to the azimuth (Q) and elevation (f) angles are given by: sin (step) = sin((p) cos(0)

sin(tilt) = sin(cp) sin (Q) / cos(step)

The phase offsets between four antenna elements are measured for each step-tilt combination, giving the characteristic antenna transfer function for a full hemisphere. The hemisphere is plotted in the figure for all arcs of radius r=l, defined by the step- tilt combinations. In practice, the radius can be either larger or smaller, the phase offsets between the A, B, C and D antennas will stay constant for all r. The measured phase offsets are related to the step and tilt angles by

The phase offsets are defined with respect to the antenna element A at location (0,0) by computing the signal wavefront phase at each antenna element and taking the difference,

antenna elements

0 £ m, n £ M, N.

The signal wavefront phase is computed from the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) at the bin that corresponds to the target signal center frequency (~2.4 GHz for BLE devices) which can be estimated from the magnitude spectrum.

X(bin) = x + jy = z

phase = tan ¹ (y/x)

z = |x| ^phase

Below are equations used to make polar angle calculations (see Figs. 5-7):

Find f r (xn, yn):

-solve three different right angle triangles

-solve for (Xn, Yn) where Nint = -12 to +12

-set Zxy(0,0) = 1

-triangle 1 : Z = 1, f hc = 7.2 degrees * Xn

-find hypotenuse = Hyplxn

-cos f xn = l/Hyplxn

-Hyplxn = l/cos f xn

-triangle 2: Hyplxn = Adj2yn f yn = 7.2 degrees * Yn

-cos f yn = Adj2yn/Hyp2yn -Hyp2yn = Adj2yn /cos f yn

-find hypotenuse = Hyp2yn

-triangle 3: Hyp2yn = Hyp3 (= r(xn, yn, z=l))*

-sin elev(xn, yn, z=^z\) = l/Hyp3

-elev(xn, yn) = arcsin (l/Hyp3)

-f (xn, yn) = 90 degrees - elev (xn, yn)

-0 = f (yn)

-*r only for z=l

Below is an example of polar angle calculations (see Figs. 5, 8 and 9):

-from part 1, Z = lu, Nx + Ny = 1

-u = units

-triangle 1 : Hyplxn = l/cos 7.2 (f x)

-Hyplxn = 1.008u

-triangle 2: Hyplxn = Adj2yn = l.008u

-cos 7.2 (f y) = 1.008/Hyp2yn

-Hyp2yn = l.008u/cos 7.2

-Hyp2yn = 1.0 l6u

-triangle 3 : Hyp2yn = Hyp3

-elev (xn, yn) = arcsin (l/Hyp3)

-elev (xl, yl) = arcsin (l/l.016u)

-elev (xl, yl) = arcsin (0.984u)

-elev (xl, yl) = 79.74 degrees

-f (xl, yl) = 90 degrees - elev (xn, yn)

-f (xl, yl) = 10.26 degrees -q = f (yl) = 7.2 degrees

Below are equations used to make time of flight calculations:

-calculations for distance measurements

-assume gateway and array system are co-located

-calculation # 1 - time based

-time of flight, Tf, is calculated as follows: T2 - TO = Ttotal

-Ttotal - (Tl + (T3*2)) = Tf(s)

-distance = (300,000,000m/s * Tf(s))/2 [round trip distance must be divided by 2]

-example: assume Tl = T3 = O.OOls and Ttotal = 0.001, 000, 05s

-distance = (300,000,000 * 0.000, 000, 05)/2 = 7.5m

-calculation #2 - geometry based

-assume vehicle and operator are on the same horizontal elevation.

-two angles will be determined by the phased array, (Theta) and (Phi)

-The height of the array will be known. The height of the fob can be assumed -Therefore, the distance and location can be calculated with 1 length and 2 angles

As described above, some aspects of the present inventive subject matter comprise a location detector that comprises a phased array of at least first, second and third antennas, and a location calculation unit. As noted above, persons of skill in the art are familiar with a variety of antennas that can receive a signal and detect the phase of the signal. In accordance with the present inventive subject matter, there is provided a location detector that comprises the phased array of antennas and components that convey the phase of a wavefront of a signal as received by each of the antennas in a way that the respective phases of portions of the wavefront of the signal received by the antennas can be compared, and that compare the respective phases of the portions of the wavefront of the signal as received by the antennas. Below is a description of a representative combination of components that can be used to provide a location detector in accordance with the present inventive subject matter. From the below descriptions, persons of skill in the art will be able to make numerous other combinations of components that likewise are location detectors in accordance with the present inventive subject matter, e.g., by making substitutions of components, deletions of components and/or additions of components. The present inventive subject matter also provides controllers that comprise location detectors as described herein, and methods that comprise comparing at least: the phase of a wavefront of a first signal received in a first antenna, the phase of a wavefront of the first signal received in a second antenna, and the phase of the wavefront of the first signal received in a third antenna (as well as methods of determining a location of a signal emitter, such methods comprising the respective phases of portions of a wavefront of a signal as received by at least three antennas).

With the information provided above regarding the phased array of antennas, and the calculations described above for determining the location of a signal emitter, persons of skill in the art can readily envision a wide range of component

configurations for controllers as described herein.

Referring to Fig. 10, the controller 100 comprises a 4-patch printed circuit board antenna array 101 (comprising a first antenna 102, a second antenna 103, a third antenna 104 and a fourth antenna 105), antenna match circuitry 106 (one for each antenna), RF splitters 107 (one for each antenna), a BLE (Bluetooth^® low energy) radio transceiver 108, gain stages 109 (two for each antenna, one on the input side of the respective mixer 111, one on the output side of the respective mixer 111), a local oscillator 1 10, mixers 111 (one for each antenna), an analog-to-digital converter 112, a digital signal processor (DSP) 113, power supplies 114 and 118, a microprocessor 115, a CAN (controller area network) transceiver 116, and discrete inputs/outputs 117.

In the 4-patch printed circuit board antenna array, all single patch dimensions are specific for the BLE 2.4GHz, 85MHz bandwidth, with the antennas in the array spaced such that they provide non-redundant phase capture. In addition, all trace lengths among the respective channels are equal.

The antenna match circuitry 106 comprises small surface mount capacitors and inductors as needed to provide antenna match, i.e., to compensate for actual performance versus simulation. The antenna match circuitry 106 is located in the RF patch between the antenna feed via and successive RF components.

The RF splitters 107 (1 per channel) each send half of each respective RF signal in two directions. One of the RF splitters 107 sends a portion of the respective signal (in this case, the third antenna 104) to the radio transceiver 108, and the other three channels split between their respective gain stages (and ultimately the analog-to- digital converter 112) and a 50 ohm termination. Since the phase relationship must be retained into the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 112, all four channels are constructed using the same parts.

The BLE radio transceiver 108 decodes BLE messages and outputs the digital information to the digital signal processor 113. Alternatively, a software module inside the DSP 113 may decode the BLE message, eliminating the need for the RF splitters 107.

The gain stages (amplifiers) 109 boost the respective signals to enable use of the maximum dynamic range of the ADC 112. In this super heterodyne receiver architecture, there are gain stages on both sides of each respective mixer 111. Gain stages on the input side are radio frequency amplifiers. On the output side of the mixers 111, the gain stages are intermediate frequency (IF) amplifiers.

In the architecture depicted in Fig. 10, a local oscillator (LO) 110 down- converts the RF frequency to IF. The LO 110 is coherent to all four channels so that the phase relationship of each channel is maintained. The LO 110 is thus the coherent clock that provides coherency of the four parallel transceivers. Each mixer 111 adds or subtracts the difference between the respective RF and LO signals. The output from each mixer 111 is an IF signal, which is a low frequency signal that retains the same phase information as the RF signal, since the LO signal is coherent.

In the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 112, the voltage present at the input of each channel is sampled and the value is digitized. Where the transmitter is at bore- sight to the four-patch array, the phase deltas of the channels are zero. Any other angle from the transmitter to the four-patch array will give predictable phase offsets. The predictability comes from the known dimensions of a wavelength at a given frequency and the distance between the patches. The output of the ADC 112 is parallel digitized values representing the scaled voltages at each channel.

The digitized data from the ADC 112 is streamed into the DSP 113. The four channels are synchronously timed. In the DSP 113, messages from transmitters are [1] time-stamped to retain coherence, [2] decoded and compared to known, desired, transmitter Ids (undesired transmit data is discarded; desired transmissions are analyzed for location), [3] analyzed for frequency, within the required band width (BW)(Bluetooth^® channels are 2MHz BW; sample rate determines channel BW;

phase accuracy is affected by the sampled BW). The received signal strength is analyzed to assist in the location determination. The phase deltas are used to determine location (see the description above regarding calculation of location based on“phase difference of arrival”). Other algorithms can be used to reduce noise from multi-path, and other interferers.

The power supply 114 on the RF-to-digital circuit board is very low noise, so as to have a minimal affect on the accuracy of the signal. The power supply 118 on the vehicle system interface (VSI) board must be very robust to survive harsh voltages supplied through the vehicle battery.

The microprocessor 115 [1] takes in the position data from the DSP, [2] sends this data to the vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) via an automotive bus (CAN,

LIN, or other), and [3] controls discrete control lines to affect vehicle functions based on the location of the operator (i.e., the operator-associated signal emitter), i.e., it initiates or terminates a vehicle start sequence, controls the vehicle, cab, and/or attachment lighting, authorizes vehicle functions based on the identity of the operator and/or a category to which the operator belongs, locks or unlocks access panels, monitors other sensors and provides diagnostic information, and/or controls discrete functions as commanded by the vehicle ECU, etc.

The CAN transceiver 116 [1] converts the physical layer from the transistor logic level to CAN modulation, [2] protects the VSI (vehicle system interface) from anomalous voltages on the CAN bus, and [3] protects the CAN bus from deleterious issues on the VSI.

The discrete inputs/outputs can include electrical interfaces to inputs from functions (e.g., push-to-start buttons, door handles, parking brakes, seat sensors, and many others), and/or electrical interfaces to outputs to functions (e.g., starters, lighting, hood and access panel latches, and many others).

An alternative down conversion that can be employed is I/Q. Super

Heterodyne down conversion can lead to distortion of the desired RF signals due to overlap in spectrum of the LO and RF frequencies. I/Q Homodyne Demodulation downconverts the center of the RF Band to Baseband (0Hz), which eliminates the spurious frequencies and images found in heterodyne conversion. DC offset that occurs with I/Q can be reduced through filtering schemes. I/Q is in-phase and Quadrature phase decomposition of the received signal. Phase offsets from non-zero channels can be corrected through signal processing algorithms. Sample rate at the ADC can be reduced, but the number of ADC channels is double. Fig. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an example of heterodyne receiver architecture, and Fig. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an example of homodyne receiver architecture.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of another representative combination of components that can be used as a controller in accordance with the present inventive subject matter. The arrangement depicted in Fig. 13 is similar to the arrangement depicted in Fig. 10, except that in the arrangement shown in Fig. 13, a gateway is provided in one enclosure and other components are provided in another enclosure, whereas in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 10, the components are provided in a single enclosure. In the arrangement depicted in Fig. 10, the components in the single enclosure convert information from the phased array of antennas and provide output signals that an ECU can recognize. In the arrangement depicted in Fig. 13, the gateway interprets output provided to it from the other enclosure, and the gateway outputs information that an ECU can recognize. In the arrangement depicted in Fig.

13 (like the arrangement depicted in Fig. 10), the LO 110 is the coherent clock that provides coherency of the four parallel transceivers.

A location detector, and/or a controller that comprises a location detector, as disclosed herein, can be configured to receive information (e.g., operator information, equipment information or location information) via one or more of the antennas in the location detector. Alternatively, the location detector (and/or the controller) can further comprise an additional signal receiver through which information can be received. As another alternative, the location detector (and/or the controller) can further comprise an additional signal receiver, and the location detector (and/or the controller) can receive information via either one or more of the antennas in the location detector or the additional signal receiver (or some information via one or more of the antennas and some via the additional signal receiver).

Figs. 15 and 16 are schematic drawings depicting an array of antennas in accordance with the present inventive subject matter. The array of antennas depicted in Figs. 15 and 16 comprises a first circuit board 151 that has a first circuit board first side 152 and a first circuit board second side 153. Mounted on the first circuit board first side 152 are a first antenna element 154, a second antenna element 155, a third antenna element 156 and a fourth antenna element 157.

The first antenna element 154 comprises a first feed via 158 and a second feed via 159. The second antenna element 155 comprises a third feed via 160 and a fourth feed via 161. The third antenna element 156 comprises a fifth feed via 162 and a sixth feed via 163. The fourth antenna element 157 comprises a seventh feed via 164 and an eighth feed via 165.

Mounted on the first circuit board second side are a first combiner/splitter 166, a second combiner/splitter 167, a third combiner/splitter 168 and a fourth

combiner/splitter 169.

The first feed via 158 and the second feed via 159 extend from the first antenna element 154, through the first circuit board 151 to the first combiner/splitter 166. The third feed via 160 and the fourth feed via 161 extend from the second antenna element 155, through the first circuit board 151 to the second combiner/splitter 167. The fifth feed via 162 and the sixth feed via 163 extend from the third antenna element 156, through the first circuit board 151 to the third combiner/splitter 168. The seventh feed via 164 and the eighth feed via 165 extend from the fourth antenna element 157, through the first circuit board 151 to the fourth combiner/splitter 169.

The first combiner/splitter 166 comprises a first RF connector (port) 170; the second combiner/splitter 167 comprises a second RF connector (port) 172; the third combiner/splitter 168 comprises a third RF connector (port) 174; and the fourth combiner/splitter 169 comprises a fourth RF connector (port) 176. The arrangement also includes a first termination 171, a second termination 173, a third termination 175 and a fourth termination 177.

Where a signal is being received by an array in accordance with the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, the signal is received in one or more of the antenna elements in the array, and, for the (or each) antenna element that receives the signal, the signal travels through the two feed vias (for that antenna element) to the combiner/splitter for that antenna element, where the respective signals from the two feed vias are combined into a single signal.

Where a signal is being transmitted by one or more antenna elements in an array in accordance with the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, for the (or each) antenna element from which the signal is transmitted, the signal is split into two signals by the combiner/splitter for that antenna element, the two signals travel through the respective two feed vias for that antenna element, and the signals are transmitted from the antenna element.

The array of antennas depicted in Figs. 15 and 16 comprises a clock source.

The clock source is connected to the antennas in any suitable way, e.g., by RF connectors. The clock source enables the first, second, third and fourth antenna elements 154, 155, 156 and 157 to have a coherent phase relationship. Matching circuitry 179 and/or attenuators 180 can be provided for any or each of the antennas.

Additional representative combinations of components that can be used as a controller in accordance with the present inventive subject matter are similar to the combinations represented in Fig. 10 and in Fig. 13, except that the gain stages 109, the mixers 111, the local oscillator (clock source) 110, the ADC 112 and functions of the DSP are integrated into a single radio transceiver block inside the integrated circuits. The coherent clock in these controllers can be of a much lower frequency (e.g., 32 MFlz). The multiplication of the new clock to the RF clock frequency (110) is done internally on each integrated circuit in the radio transceiver block.

Embodiments in accordance with the present inventive subject matter are described herein in detail in order to provide exact features of representative embodiments that are within the overall scope of the present inventive subject matter. The present inventive subject matter should not be understood to be limited to such detail.

Any two or more structural parts of the controllers and the location detectors described herein can be integrated. Any structural part of the controllers and the location detectors described herein can be provided in two or more parts which are held together, if necessary.

Claims

1. A location detector, comprising:

a phased array of at least a first antenna, a second antenna and a third antenna; and

a location calculation unit,

2. A location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the phased array further comprises a fourth antenna,

the fourth antenna is configured to receive signals from signal emitters, and

the location calculation unit is configured to determine location information of a signal emitter by comparing at least: the phase of the first portion of a wavefront of the first signal as received by the first antenna, the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal as received by the second antenna, the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal as received by the third antenna, and the phase of a fourth portion of the wavefront of the first signal as received by the fourth antenna.

3. A location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the location information comprises a distance to the first signal emitter from the phased array.

4. A location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the location information comprises a direction in which the first signal emitter is located relative to the phased array.

5. A location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the location information comprises:

a distance to the first signal emitter from the phased array.

6. A location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first antenna is circularly polarized;

the second antenna is circularly polarized; and

the third antenna is circularly polarized.

7. A location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first antenna is circularly polarized; the second antenna is circularly polarized;

the third antenna is circularly polarized; and

the first signal emitter is linearly polarized.

8. A location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the location detector is configured to also transmit at least some of the location information.

9. A location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the location detector is configured to also receive information from the first signal emitter.

10. A location detector as recited in claim 9, wherein the information from the first signal emitter comprises operator information and/or asset information.

11. A controller comprising:

a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to emit a signal that instructs first equipment to perform at least a first function upon the location detector determining the location of a signal emitter associated with an operator to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location.

12. A controller as recited in claim 11, wherein the first location is a general location.

13. A controller as recited in claim 12, wherein the first location is in the first equipment.

14. A controller as recited in claim 12, wherein the first location is a location that indicates that an operator is entering the first equipment.

15. A controller as recited in claim 11, wherein the first location is an exact location.

16. A controller as recited in claim 11, wherein the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight;

turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light;

turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment;

turning on at least one engine;

unlocking at least one door;

releasing at least one parking brake; and

activating at least one communication function.

17. A controller as recited in claim 11, wherein the controller emits a signal that instructs the first equipment to perform at least a second function upon the location detector determining the location of the signal emitter to be in any of a second group of locations, the second group of locations comprising at least a second location.

18. A controller as recited in claim 17, wherein the first location is a first general location and the second location is a second general location.

19. A controller as recited in claim 17, wherein the first location is entering the first equipment and the second location is in the first equipment.

20. A controller as recited in claim 19, wherein:

the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight; turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light,

21. A controller as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first equipment is a piece of equipment.

22. A controller as recited in claim 11, wherein the first equipment comprises a plurality of pieces of equipment.

23. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether an operator is authorized to operate first equipment, based on an identification signal that is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal emitter and that indicates an identity of the operator.

24. A controller as recited in claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to prevent or allow the operator to operate the first equipment based on the identification signal.

25. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine [1] whether an operator is authorized to use a function, and/or [2] which functions an operator is authorized to use, from among functions that first equipment is configured to perform, based on an identification signal that is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal emitter and that indicates an identity of the operator.

26. A controller as recited in claim 25, wherein the controller is configured to prevent or allow the operator to operate at least one function that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the identification signal.

27. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine [1] whether an operator is authorized to receive information, and/or [2] which information an operator is authorized to receive, from among information relating to first equipment, based on an identification signal that is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal emitter and that indicates an identity of the operator.

28. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine [1] whether an operator is authorized to receive information, and/or [2] which information an operator is authorized to receive, from among information relating to first equipment, based on an identification signal that is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal transceiver and that indicates an identity of the operator.

29. A controller as recited in claim 28, wherein the controller is configured to prevent or allow information to be transmitted to the operator-associated signal transceiver, based on the identification signal.

30. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether an operator is authorized to operate first equipment, based on an identification signal that is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal emitter and that indicates a category to which the operator belongs.

31. A controller as recited in claim 30, wherein the controller is configured to prevent or allow the operator to operate the first equipment based on the identification signal.

32. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine [1] whether an operator is authorized to use a function, and/or [2] which functions an operator is authorized to use, from among functions that first equipment is configured to perform, based on an identification signal that is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal emitter and that indicates a category to which the operator belongs.

33. A controller as recited in claim 32, wherein the controller is configured to prevent or allow the operator to operate at least one function that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the identification signal.

34. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine [1] whether an operator is authorized to receive information, and/or [2] which information an operator is authorized to receive, from among information relating to first equipment, based on an identification signal that is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal emitter and that indicates a category to which the operator belongs.

35. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine [1] whether an operator is authorized to receive information, and/or [2] which information an operator is authorized to receive, from among information relating to first equipment, based on an identification signal that is received by the controller from an operator-associated signal transceiver and that indicates a category to which the operator belongs.

36. A controller as recited in claim 35, wherein the controller is configured to prevent or allow information to be transmitted to the operator-associated signal transceiver, based on the identification signal.

37. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller emits a signal that instructs first equipment to perform at least a first function upon:

[2] the controller receiving information that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the operator-associated signal emitter, and

[3] the controller determining that the operator associated with the operator-associated signal emitter is authorized to operate the first equipment, based on the identity of the operator associated with the operator-associated signal emitter.

38. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller transmits first equipment information to an operator-associated signal transceiver, said first equipment information comprising information relating to first equipment, said first equipment information comprising information requested in an information request signal received from the operator-associated signal transceiver, upon:

[1] the location detector determining a location of the operator- associated signal transceiver to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location, [2] the controller receiving information that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver,

[4] the controller determining that the operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver is authorized to receive said first equipment information based on the identity of the operator associated with the operator- associated signal transceiver.

39. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein: the signal emitter comprises an operator-associated signal transceiver, and

40. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller emits a signal that instructs first equipment to perform at least a first function upon:

[2] the controller receiving information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the operator-associated signal emitter belongs, and

41. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller transmits first equipment information to an operator-associated signal transceiver, said first equipment information comprising information relating to first equipment, said first equipment information comprising information requested in an information request signal received from the operator-associated signal transceiver, upon:

[1] the location detector determining a location of the operator- associated signal transceiver to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location, [2] the controller receiving information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver belongs,

[4] the controller determining that the operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver is authorized to receive said first equipment information based on the category to which the operator associated with the operator- associated signal transceiver belongs.

42. A controller comprising a location detector as recited in claim 1, wherein: the signal emitter comprises an operator-associated signal transceiver, and

information based on the category to which the operator associated with the operator- associated signal transceiver belongs.

43. A method, comprising:

comparing:

44. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the phased array further comprises a fourth antenna, and

the method further comprises:

receiving a fourth portion of the wavefront of the first signal in the fourth antenna;

detecting a phase of the fourth portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the fourth antenna; and comparing:

45. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein said comparing the phase of the first portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the first antenna, the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna, and the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna is used to determine an angle Q defined by [1] an imaginary horizontal line extending from a point directly beneath the location detector to the signal emitter and [2] an imaginary horizontal reference line extending through the point directly beneath the location detector, the angle Q defining an angular location of the signal emitter relative to the location detector.

46. A method as recited in claim 45, wherein:

the location detector is in first equipment, and

the imaginary horizontal reference line is in an imaginary plane that bisects the first equipment.

47. A method as recited in claim 45, wherein the method further comprises: transmitting the angle Q from the location detector to the signal emitter.

48. A method as recited in claim 45, wherein the method further comprises: transmitting the angle Q from the location detector to a signal receiver.

49. A method as recited in claim 48, wherein the signal receiver is distinct from the signal emitter.

50. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein said comparing the phase of the first portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the first antenna, the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna, and the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna is used to determine an angle f, the angle f being an angle defined by [1] an imaginary line extending from the location detector to the signal emitter and [2] an imaginary vertical line extending downward from the location detector.

51. A method as recited in claim 50, wherein the method further comprises determining a distance between the location detector and the signal emitter by calculating the value of (a height of the location detector relative to an estimated height of the signal emitter) / (cos f).

52. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein the method further comprises: transmitting the distance between the location detector and the signal emitter from the location detector to the signal emitter.

53. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein the method further comprises:

transmitting the distance between the location detector and the signal emitter from the location detector to a signal receiver.

54. A method as recited in claim 53, wherein the signal receiver is distinct from the signal emitter.

55. A method as recited in claim 50, wherein the method further comprises determining a distance between [1] a point that is vertically below the signal emitter and that is at a height equal to an estimated height of the signal emitter, and [2] the signal emitter, by calculating the value of (a height of the location detector relative to an estimated height of the signal emitter) x (tan f).

56. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein said comparing the phase of the first portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the first antenna, the phase of the second portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the second antenna, and the phase of the third portion of the wavefront of the first signal received in the third antenna is used to determine a first angle Q and a second angle f, the first angle f being an angle defined by [1] an imaginary line extending from the location detector to the signal emitter and [2] an imaginary vertical line extending downward from the location detector, the second angle Q being an angle defined by [3] an imaginary horizontal line extending from a point directly beneath the location detector to the signal emitter and [4] an imaginary horizontal reference line extending through the point directly beneath the location detector, the second angle Q defining an angular location of the signal emitter relative to the location detector.

57. A method as recited in claim 56, wherein:

the location detector is in first equipment, and

58. A method as recited in claim 56, wherein the method further comprises determining a distance between the location detector and the signal emitter by calculating the value of (a height of the location detector relative to an estimated height of the signal emitter) / (cos f).

59. A method as recited in claim 58, wherein the method further comprises: transmitting the angle Q and distance between the location detector and the signal emitter from the location detector to the signal emitter.

60. A method as recited in claim 58, wherein the method further comprises: transmitting the angle Q and distance between the location detector and the signal emitter from the location detector to a signal receiver.

61. A method as recited in claim 60, wherein the signal receiver is distinct from the signal emitter.

62. A method as recited in claim 56, wherein the method further comprises determining a distance between [1] a point that is vertically below the signal emitter and that is at a height equal to an estimated height of the signal emitter, and [2] the signal emitter, by calculating the value of (a height of the location detector relative to an estimated height of the signal emitter) x (tan f).

63. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the first antenna is circularly polarized;

the second antenna is circularly polarized; and

the third antenna is circularly polarized.

64. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the first antenna is circularly polarized;

the second antenna is circularly polarized;

the third antenna is circularly polarized; and the signal emitter is linearly polarized.

65. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein the method further comprises transmitting operator information and/or asset information from the signal emitter to the location detector.

66. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the location detector is in a controller; and

the method further comprises emitting from the controller a signal that instructs first equipment to perform at least a first function, upon the location detector determining a location of the signal emitter to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location.

67. A method as recited in claim 66, wherein the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight;

turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light;

turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment;

turning on at least one engine;

unlocking at least one door;

releasing at least one parking brake; and

activating at least one communication function.

68. A method as recited in claim 66, wherein the method further comprises emitting from the controller a signal that instructs the first equipment to perform at least a second function, upon the location detector determining the location of the signal emitter to be in any of a second group of locations, the second group of locations comprising at least a second location.

69. A method as recited in claim 68, wherein the first location is entering the first equipment and the second location is in the first equipment.

70. A method as recited in claim 69, wherein:

the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight;

turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light,

71. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the location detector is in a controller; and

the method further comprises the controller receiving an identification signal from the signal emitter, the identification signal comprising information that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the signal emitter.

72. A method as recited in claim 71, wherein the method further comprises: the controller determining whether the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to operate the first equipment based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter.

73. A method as recited in claim 72, wherein the method further comprises: the controller preventing or allowing the operator associated with the signal emitter to operate the first equipment based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter.

74. A method as recited in claim 71, wherein the method further comprises: the controller determining [1] whether an operator is authorized to use a function, and/or [2] which functions the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to use, from among functions that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter.

75. A method as recited in claim 74, wherein the method further comprises: the controller preventing or allowing the operator associated with the signal emitter to operate at least one function that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter.

76. A method as recited in claim 71, wherein the method further comprises: the controller determining [1] whether an operator is authorized to receive information, and/or [2] which information the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to receive, from among information relating to the first equipment, based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter.

77. A method as recited in claim 76, wherein:

the signal emitter is part of a signal transceiver, and

the method further comprises the controller preventing or allowing information to be transmitted to the signal transceiver, based on the information that indicates the identity of the operator associated with the signal emitter.

78. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the location detector is in a controller; and the method further comprises the controller receiving an identification signal from the signal emitter, the identification signal comprising information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the signal emitter belongs.

79. A method as recited in claim 78, wherein the method further comprises: the controller determining whether the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to operate the first equipment based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs.

80. A method as recited in claim 79, wherein the method further comprises: the controller preventing or allowing the operator associated with the signal emitter to operate the first equipment based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs.

81. A method as recited in claim 78, wherein the method further comprises: the controller determining [1] whether an operator is authorized to use a function, and/or [2] which functions the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to use, from among functions that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs.

82. A method as recited in claim 81, wherein the method further comprises: the controller preventing or allowing the operator associated with the signal emitter to operate at least one function that the first equipment is configured to perform, based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs.

83. A method as recited in claim 78, wherein the method further comprises: the controller determining [1] whether an operator is authorized to receive information, and/or [2] which information the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to receive, from among information relating to the first equipment, based on the information that indicates a category to which the operator associated with the signal emitter belongs.

84. A method as recited in claim 83, wherein:

the signal emitter is part of a signal transceiver, and

the method further comprises:

85. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the location detector is in a controller; and

the controller determining that the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to operate first equipment, based on the identification signal.

86. A method as recited in claim 85, wherein the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight;

turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light;

turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment;

turning on at least one engine;

unlocking at least one door;

releasing at least one parking brake; and

activating at least one communication function.

87. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the location detector is in a controller; and

88. A method as recited in claim 87, wherein the first function is selected from the group consisting of:

turning on at least one headlight; turning on at least one cab light;

turning on at least one stair light;

turning on at least one computer function in the first equipment;

turning on at least one engine;

unlocking at least one door;

releasing at least one parking brake; and

activating at least one communication function.

89. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the location detector is in a controller;

the signal emitter is part of an operator-associated signal transceiver; and

90. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the location detector is in a controller; the signal emitter is part of an operator-associated signal transceiver; and

the controller receiving from an operator-associated signal transceiver operator information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver belongs,

91. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the location detector is in a controller;

the signal emitter is part of an operator-associated signal transceiver; and

the method further comprises the controller transmitting at least some of said location information to the operator-associated signal transceiver, upon: the controller determining a location of the signal emitter to be in any of a first group of locations, the first group of locations comprising at least a first location,

the controller receiving from an operator-associated signal transceiver operator information that indicates an identity of an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver, and

92. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the location detector is in a controller;

the signal emitter is part of an operator-associated signal transceiver; and

the controller receiving from an operator-associated signal transceiver operator information that indicates a category to which an operator associated with the operator-associated signal transceiver belongs, and the controller determining that the operator associated with the signal emitter is authorized to receive said location information based on the operator information.

93. An array of antennas, comprising:

at least a first circuit board comprising a first circuit board first side and a first circuit board second side;

94. An array of antennas as recited in claim 93, wherein the array of antennas further comprises at least a first clock source that enables each of the at least first, second and third antenna elements to have a coherent phase relationship.

95. An array of antennas as recited in claim 93, wherein each of the first, second and third combiner/splitters is a 90 degree phase coupler / 90 degree phase splitter.

96. An array of antennas as recited in claim 93, wherein the at least a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element consists of the first antenna element, the second antenna element, the third antenna element and a fourth antenna element.